Here is a great winter checklist for your home. courtesy Lennox.

Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall and Winter

General guidelines for keeping your home warm and efficient:
Have a qualified HVAC professional inspect your home’s ducts and cooling equipment.
Set your thermostat to 68°F when you’re at home and awake, and as low as 60°F when you’re
asleep or awake.
Clean or replace furnace filters every month.
Clean chimney and check to see if your fireplace is working properly.
Seal air leaks in the attic, basement and crawlspace, and also around windows and doors.
Insulate inside of windows with heavy-duty, clear plastic sheets.
Check your attic for proper insulation. (The U.S. Department of Energy suggests a value between
R-22 and R-49.)
Close curtains or shades at night and keep them open during the day
Clean windows on the south side of your house to maximize sunlight exposure.
Weather-strip doors that lead to cold or outside areas.
Wrap and insulate waterlines to prevent them from freezing.
Repair leaky faucets.
Extra steps you can take to save energy:
Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
Insulate the water tank and first six feet of hot and cold water pipes connected to the unit.
Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120°F (for every 10-degree decrease in temperature,
you may save 3% - 5% on your energy costs).
Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and use switch plates on exterior walls.
Install low-flow showerheads.
Things you can do to improve air quality and reduce potential health risks:
When adjusting clocks, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors.
Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air.
Clean water-damaged carpets and materials, or consider replacement.
Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean
Take special precaution when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage.
Store and dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner

Green Kitchen Renovations

Wenge wood Kitchen ceaser stone tops

Kelowna kitchen renovations these days are becoming more and more common place. Homeowners are realizing that they can stay in their home and have that dream kitchen they have always wanted.


If you stay with the same layout for plumbing and electrical a kitchen renovation can be quick and painless. Keeping the same layout also allows you to spend money on nicer cabinets rather than paying for expensive plumbing, venting, or electrical work.


Green kitchen renovations are a real possibility these days with many products readily available. Let’s divide the work roughly in two,

one half being the new cabinets and counter tops, the second half being the disposal of existing cabinets, and any modifications to wiring or plumbing, drywall etc. (Please note that new plumbing and electrical work requires a permit. Not getting one could render you liable should a problem occur. )

First the cabinets. There are woods available that are considered to be environmentally friendly -- these would be used for doors and facings. Examples could be pine beetle wood, Wenge, (looks like ebony) or woods from as common as birch, alder, walnut and cherry from sustainable forestry operations. The big “green wood” gaining popularity now is bamboo. There are coatings for the wood that are also green. These coatings may contain no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), or be clear without additives and tints.

Second, inside the cabinets. Some manufactures offer products that are made with bamboo or other renewable resources. Finally, the counter tops. These can also be green. Some options include:


● Recycled glass (looks like ceaser stone)
● Composite compressed paper (sounds strange, but looks amazing)
● Recycled aluminum
● Reclaimed wood

The Renovation
Looking at the work around the cabinets, have your contractor make sure that all wire or copper plumbing pipe, drywall, and wood scraps are separated and recycled. The old cabinets can be reused for storage in garages, workshops etc. Place a free ad in Castanet or a local classified service and watch them walk out the door. Remember a great way to be green is to reuse and avoid the energy required to recycle. Reusing and renewing should be your first choice.

This might all seem a bit daunting, so hire a contractor that cares about our planet. At Greenwave Construction we will guide you through the process of green kitchen renovations in a friendly helpful manner. We are the only smart choice for your project.


David Federici
Greenwave Construction
Kelowna, BC
(250) 575-2690
http://www.greenwaveconstruction.ca/
Email

We take the home work out of home improvements.

The Federal grants for energy upgrades are ending.

Consumer tip nov


The Federal grants for energy upgrades are ending in March next year. Now is the time to get your energy assessment done and try to complete the upgrades before the grants end. Email dave@greenwaveconsrtuction.ca and we will try and get your work complete to allow you to cash in on this great program.

How to renovate your Okanagan Home.

How to renovate your Okanagan Home.

The Renovation of a Fifties Bungalow Part two

The transformation of a fifties bungalow to a contemporary styled home has been an exiting project with a few challenges encountered along the way.

Day one

All projects of this scope can be a bit like archaeology with the contractor uncovering unknown things along the way. Without xray vision a contractor must rely on his knowledge and experience to help guide him through this process.

I decided early on to personally supervise the carpenters, so instead of hiring a subcontractor I hired carpenters on a hourly basis. This allows a far greater degree of control. Since I am a red seal carpenter and have 30 years experience in home construction and renovations I felt this was the wisest way to proceed.

This kind of project is not for the faint of heart. To add a story on a existing home of this vintage is to say the least a bit tricky. Never mind the fact that the owners chose to stay in the home and live directly below the renovation.
Fortunately in spite of the fact that at times there was only a half inch of drywall between my workers and the customers the work proceeded seamlessly and without incident. There was do water ingression in spite of the fact that the roof had been removed to allow us to sister the joists. There was minimum damage to the ceiling and all work was done from above including wiring plumbing and venting.

The second story is on

I did bring in a structural engineer to give direction and add his expertise on some issues. Most municipal building authorities will require a structural engineer to sign off on issues with a project of this type. All building professionals as well as building inspectors should be viewed as helpful partners in the project. There expertise is invaluable when undertaking a project of this nature. If you have a contactor that seems nervous about inspections or the involvement of engineers or building professionals this should send up red flags. If the work is done by qualified professionals
and supervised by experienced site supervisors inspections should never be a concern.
At this point in the project we have completed the rough framing, back framing, plumbing, and electrical. The windows and doors have been installed and stairs completed. Next week we have framing inspection and then insulation. All this work has been completed in five weeks. This is a remarkable pace considering the complexity of the project.

finished product

Project update!  check out the project video on you tube  http://youtu.be/bRd0QS0r5rE

So if you’re thinking of a home renovation in the Okanagan give us a call and let us guide you through the process of planning, designing and building your homes transformation. With the help of our fully certified trades and with my personal supervision, Greenwave Construction is a winning combination. With 30 years of experience Greenwave Construction is the only smart choice for Kelowna home Renovations.

Don’t move renovate, transform your existing home. With today’s low interest rates there has never been a better time to grow your home to address the needs of your family now and in the future. Give us a call we can help take the home work out of home improvements.

The Renovation of a Fifties Bungalow

From Fifties to Nifty

Is anyone old enough to remember the fifties? I know I’m not! I was born in 1957. I think we are all familiar with the fifties thanks to Hollywood’s version of Happy Days and American graffiti. The big North American made cars, in those great colors: salmon, powder blue, and turquoise. Most of those cars are gone now, relegated to the sidelines of our everyday life. They can be viewed being driven by silver haired owners with memories in their eyes at the local car shows that dot the Okanagan Valley during the summer. These days those great fifties fashions are coming back as is the music. What about the homes we lived in back then: what happened to them? Many of these older homes have been modified beyond recognition or are in disrepair.

I want to talk about a particular style of home the nineteen fifties, the flat roof bungalow that was commonly painted the same color as those great old cars. Some did have second levels so were not by the true definition bungalows, but because of the flat roofs they appeared low sprawling and modern in their day. In the postwar fifties home designers were trying to come up with a new look that was cost effective and pleasing to the eye. These homes were well laid out, economical, and sleek. They were also a great departure from the California craftsman house of the west coast.

Today these flat roofed vintage homes look dated. However, they have unlocked potential that deserves exploring. Recently I was contacted by a client interested in a carriage home. Unfortunately the back yard set backs did not allow for it. After doing a thorough inspection of their fifties bungalow I suggested putting the carriage house on the roof! I came up with a design calling for a 700 square foot self-contained penthouse suite to be added on top of the home. This suite was to include two rooftop decks, two bedrooms, and a modern kitchen with 10 foot ceilings. They were thrilled.

What made this renovation possible was the flat roof. In the project we will be re-cladding the entire home and bringing the design completely up to date while retaining the distinctive fifties flat roof. The next step before anything is done is to have an energy audit completed. There are grants available from both federal and provincial programs that can make your old home the most energy efficient home on the block!

So the big question is: what will new proposed design look like? The new design looks like a modern home with sleek lines and simple detailing. The transformation will be startling. I will post info and photos on our blog as the project proceeds.

Give us a call and let us guide you through the process of planning, designing and building your home's transformation. With the help of our fully certified trades and with my personal supervision, Greenwave Construction is a winning combination. With 30 years of experience Greenwave Construction is the only smart choice for Kelowna home renovations.


Proposed Front Elevation

Don’t move: renovate, and transform your existing home. A mortgage helper can keep you in your home for a long time. With today’s low interest rate there has never been a better time to grow your home to address the needs of your family now and in the future. Give us a call we can help take the homework out of home improvements.


David Federici
Greenwave Construction
Kelowna, BC
(250) 575-2690
http://www.greenwaveconstruction.ca/

Two sides of the Renovation Coin

As the owner of Kelowna’s Greenwave Construction, I am commonly approached by two types of clients that represent two sides of the coin in the renovation industry.

The first are recent purchasers of property. Quite often these purchasers will tell me what a “great deal they got” because the home required work and the buyers were not interested in completing the project prior to putting the home on the market. I am more than happy to assist these clients in completing the requested renovations or maintenance. This work always increases the value of the home. If properly done these projects help protect the value of the home in the future.

Now let’s look at the other side of the coin: sellers.

Recently, I have been contacted more and more by a less common type of customer. These clients have properties to sell and they are faced with a slow market. They have been advised to have the home undergo repairs to help the property sell. In many cases these homes are very valuable and are available to more discerning buyers.

It seems the Okanagan valley is filled with high priced fixer-uppers. These are homes that have been used seasonally or sparingly by out of town buyers and have not been maintained or updated. When the need arises to sell such a home the sellers quickly realize that they will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in most cases on their sale price if the work is not done. Even if the buyers do not notice the problems their home inspector will. This will result in the buyers discounting their offer or not offering to purchase at all.

A buyer will usually want to deduct far more money than the work will cost to complete simply because of the hassle and risk associated with assuming the problem. Who needs the headache!

My advice to all clients is the same.

1. Have your home maintained properly on an ongoing basis.
2. Do not overbuy. All property will require maintenance.
3. The cost of this maintenance should be factored in when making a decision to purchase.

Failure to maintain your property will result in its devaluation on the market. If you want to sell your property have a reputable firm complete the required work. As a result of current property disclosure laws you may be held liable for poorly completed work as well as any defects in your home that you have not disclosed.

Protect yourselves: be a smart home seller and offer a good product to the housing market.

For Kelowna Renovations, contact Greenwave Construction and let us help guide you through the renovation process. It could save you thousands of dollars.

Greenwave Construction

Kelowna Home Renovation Contractor

(250) 575-2690

http://www.greenwaveconstruction.ca/

















David Federici


Greenwave Construction

Kelowna, BC


Email

Return value for your home improvements

Return value for your home improvements

There's no denying that home renovations can increase the value of your home.

According to the recent Canadian Home Renovation Survey (2004) from the Appraisal Institute of Canada, a kitchen or bathroom renovation can be expected to nearly double the amount you invest.
$10,000 spent will increase your home's value by $17,500 - $20,000.

To look at another example, for every $1.00 you spend to paint, inside or out, expect to get $1.50 - $2.00 back.

Bathroom renovation 75 - 100%
Kitchen renovation 75 - 100%
Interior painting 50 - 100%
Exterior painting 50 - 100%
Roof shingle replacement 50 - 80%
Furnace/heating system 50 - 80%
Basement renovation 50 - 75%
Recreation room addition 50 - 75%
Installing a fireplace 50 - 75%
Flooring 50 - 75%
Constructing a garage 50 - 75%

Window/door replacement 50 - 75%

Building a deck 50 - 75%

Central air conditioning 25 - 75%

Landscaping 25 - 50%

Interlocking paving 25 - 50%

Building a fence 25 - 50%

Asphalt paving 20 - 50%

Adding a swimming pool 10 - 40%

Installing a skylight 0 - 25%